If you’re interested in sharing your writing in a respectful, supportive, and encouraging environment—and offering thoughtful, constructive feedback to fellow writers—we’d love to have you join us!
Facilitated by Cathalynn (Cindy) Labonte-Smith and Robin Lamarche, this writers’ critique group provides a welcoming space to share works in progress and receive helpful feedback. Together, participants will establish group guidelines and goals to create a positive and constructive experience for everyone.
Come join our discussion of Betty Baxter’s new book!
When Betty Baxter was hired to coach the Canadian women’s volleyball team in 1980, she was met with a media frenzy as the first woman in the position. Then her career was cut short—Baxter was fired in January 1982 and tossed from volleyball at age twenty-nine because of rumours about her sexual orientation.
This personal memoir chronicles Baxter’s journey from a small-town prairie girl discovering her passion for sports, through the years of international success, including harsh coaches, excruciating training regimes and the inequities in the sports system, especially for a closeted gay athlete. After her abrupt dismissal, Baxter turned to activism, seeking equality for women, initiating a new coaching school and working for a healthy, visible LGBTQ+ community through the internationally recognized Gay Games.
All are welcome (even if you haven’t read the book!). Register below.
Registration required here
Call for submissions for “Snippets from a Small Town: Understanding Life on the Sunshine Coast,” sponsored by the Small Neighbourhood Grant program. Send your poetry, fiction, nonfiction, photography, and art to cathalynn@gmail.com by Monday, November 17th. Small honorariums available. Launch at Gibsons & District Public Library Wednesday, December 17th, 11 am. Cover art by Sheri Peters.
Writing Workshop with Fran Bourassa
Practice “free writing” short pieces from “word whip” prompts that elicit memories, emotions, and powerful ideas for poetry and stories. This method is quick, powerful, and everyone can enjoy it.
Fran Bourassa is an award-winning poet and contributing writer to numerous anthologies, including Breaking the Surface, Pacific Poetry Anthology, Force Field: 77 BC Poets.
Free but space is limited (in person only).
Registration opens on the 1st of the month here.
Grief can be a challenging companion. Whether you have recently started experiencing grief or it’s been many years, this series can be helpful. No writing experience is necessary, just an open mind and an open heart. This weekly series on six Tuesdays gives you a way to engage with grief on a daily basis, helping you find and listen your own story. The writing activities also help you connect with one another; helping people who truly understand what it’s like to live within life-changing loss share and support one another. No platitudes, no advice, just a community of fellow grievers, writing alone, together. Offered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Hospice Society, with support from the Town of Gibsons. Free, but space is limited: advance registration for all 6 sessions required.
Grief can be a challenging companion. Whether you have recently started experiencing grief or it’s been many years, this series can be helpful. No writing experience is necessary, just an open mind and an open heart. This weekly series on six Tuesdays gives you a way to engage with grief on a daily basis, helping you find and listen your own story. The writing activities also help you connect with one another; helping people who truly understand what it’s like to live within life-changing loss share and support one another. No platitudes, no advice, just a community of fellow grievers, writing alone, together. Offered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Hospice Society, with support from the Town of Gibsons. Free, but space is limited: advance registration for all 6 sessions required.
Grief can be a challenging companion. Whether you have recently started experiencing grief or it’s been many years, this series can be helpful. No writing experience is necessary, just an open mind and an open heart. This weekly series on six Tuesdays gives you a way to engage with grief on a daily basis, helping you find and listen your own story. The writing activities also help you connect with one another; helping people who truly understand what it’s like to live within life-changing loss share and support one another. No platitudes, no advice, just a community of fellow grievers, writing alone, together. Offered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Hospice Society, with support from the Town of Gibsons. Free, but space is limited: advance registration for all 6 sessions required.
Grief can be a challenging companion. Whether you have recently started experiencing grief or it’s been many years, this series can be helpful. No writing experience is necessary, just an open mind and an open heart. This weekly series on six Tuesdays gives you a way to engage with grief on a daily basis, helping you find and listen your own story. The writing activities also help you connect with one another; helping people who truly understand what it’s like to live within life-changing loss share and support one another. No platitudes, no advice, just a community of fellow grievers, writing alone, together. Offered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Hospice Society, with support from the Town of Gibsons. Free, but space is limited: advance registration for all 6 sessions required.
